Stemming machine construction



Awfilw3@ J. C. www, JH www@ STEIVIMINGv MACHINEv CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 3,

4%. gg- YNVENTOW Vltallentecl Apr.. 28, 1936 STEMMING MACHHNE CUNSTREICTEN Application January 3, 1935, Serial No. 275

8 Claims.

This invention relates to stemming machines and is particularly designed to improve stemming machines of the general type disclosed in Patent No. 1,986,781, granted on the application of Charles G. Maxwell, Serial #603,8'71, filed April "I, 1932 for an` improvement in Tobacco stemming machines and the co-pending application of Thomas R. Priddy, Serial #753,379, filed November 16, 1931i for an improvement in Stemming machines, though the invention is useful in connection with other types of stemmers. In this type of machine, stem gripping means and endless stripping means traveling in diverging paths strip the leaf.

The machines of the patent and application referred to employ sets of opposed cables carrying the leaves past suitable butting and main stripping units, the main stripping unit consisting of opposed runs of endless carding traveling in a path diverging from one set of cables.

To obtain a secure grip on the stems, the machine disclosed in the Maxwell patent employed a plurality of opposed staggered cable runs, obtained by using several parallel sets of cables. One important object of the invention is to reduce cable expense by so mounting one cable that the one cable has a plurality of runs in contact with the leaf, thus decreasing the number of cable splices, one of the chief sources of cable wear and expense. This feature also reduces the time spent in replacing cables.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and co-mbinations which will be hereinafter fully described and then particuiarly pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts,

Fig. 1 .is a detail view in side elevation of the improved stemming mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail view in perspective of the cable mounting employed;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the improved stemming mechanism.

In carrying the invention into effect there is provided in the construction illustrated, means for advancing leaves through the machine, comprising a pair of opposed flexible endless members which may be wire cables together with means mounting each of said members with a plurality of runs of each member in opposition to runs of the other member, in order that the members may securely grip the leaves between them while the stemming or other treating operation is performed on other portions of the leaf. Preferably, these endless members or cables comprise flexible endless spliced metal cables with the result that the plurality of loops of each cable referred to, require only one splice for each plurality of runs. in the best constructions contemplated, the runs of the two members are offset relative to each other to grip and flex or crimp the leaf stems and the members co-operate with endless opposed stemming devices traveling in a diverging path whereby the cables pull the leaf through the stemming devices to stem the leaf. The various means referred to may be varied widely in construction within the scope of the claims, for the particular device selected to illustrate the invention is but one of many possible concrete embodiments of the same. The invention therefore is not to be restricted to the precise details shown and described nor to the particular embodiments chosen as illustrative of the invention.

Referring now to the particular embodiment shown in the drawing, as explained in detail, in the patent to Maxwell, above referred to, a plurality of staggered leaf gripping cable runs are provided for flexing or crimping the leaf stems S between them, the cables preferably being made of twisted metal wire, because of the better gripping surface resulting. In the prior construction, a plurality of cables are provided above and below the leaves to give a plurality of gripping runs. I have found that the same results can be obtained with less cable expense by looping one cable a plurality of times, so that two or three or more gripping runs can be employed with only one cable splice. it should be understood that the splice is one of the most expensive features of the cable, and that often the life of the cable is determined by the life of the splice. Thus the cable l5 is wound twice over the sheaves 'l and 8 and crossed over on a supporting and guiding idler sheaveil (Fig. 3). Similarly the cable lli is looped three times over sheaves l2 and i3 and crossed over on the supporting and guiding idler sheave lll.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the cables l5 and lt are staggered relative to each other, so as to grip and flex the stem between them to secure a firmer grip on the stem. These cables advance the leaf into the range of action of, the endless opposed traveling stemming elements 2t consisting of card lll belts having projecting cards 2| and 26, carried by chains i9 and 2li, passing over sprockets I8 and 23 on shafts l? and Z2. While not shown in Fig. 1, it is obvious that the other ends of the chains I9 and 24 are similarly supported by like sprockets, all as shown in the Maxwell patent above referred to. 'f

As will appear from Fig. 2, the card belts 20 and 25 travel in diverging rectilinear paths from the gripping runs l5 and IG of the cables thus pulling the leaves L through the cards as shown in Fig. 4, to stem the same.

It should be understood that these cables are capable of use with other types of stemming means, as for instance butting means for stripping the butts of the stems as shown in the Maxwell patent referred to.

What is claimed is:

l. In a tobacco stemming machine, means fo1 advancing leaves through the machine comprising a pair of opposed iiexible endless members, and means mounting each of said members with a plurality of runs of each member in opposition to runs of the other member to grip the leaves between them.

2. In a tobacco stemming machine, means for advancing leaves through the machine comprising a pair of opposed flexible endless spliced metal cables, and pulleys mounting each of said cables in a plurality of loops with a plurality of runs of each cable in opposition to runs of the other cable, whereby only one splice is required for each plurality of runs.

3. In a tobacco stemming machine, two sets of opposed endless stemming devices having spaced apart parallel runs traveling in a rectilinear path, and means for advancing a succession of leaves between said stemming devices, comprising two opposed cooperating endless belts each looped a plurality of times to provide a plurality of opposed parallel runs.

4. In a tobacco stemming machine, two sets of opposed endless stemming devices having spaced apart parallel runs traveling in a rectilinear path, and means for advancing a succession of leaves between said stemming devices comprising two opposed cooperating endless members each looped a plurality of times to provide a plurality of opposed parallel runs, the runs of the two members being offset relative to each other to grip and flex or crimp the leaf stems transversely at adjacent points, said stemming devices and endless members being arranged to travel in divergent paths.

5. In a tobacco stemming machine, stemming devices, and means for advancing a succession of leaves to said stemming devices, comprising tWo opposed cooperating endless belts each looped a plurality of times to provide a plurality of opposed parallel runs arranged to grip the leaves between them.

6. In a tobacco stemming machine, stemming devices, means for advancing a succession of leaves into the range of action of said stemming devices, comprising two opposed cooperating endless members each looped a plurality of times to provide a plurality of opposed parallel runs, arranged to grip the leaves between them with a cross-over idle run passing from one operating run to another operating run and an idler pulley supporting said cross-over run.

7. In a tobacco stemming machine, stemming devices, and means for advancing a succession of tobacco leaves into the range of action of said stemming devices, said means comprising two opposed cooperating iiexible endless members each looped a plurality of times to provide opposed parallel runs arranged to grip the leaves between them, and mechanism guiding said runs with the runs of one member opposite spaces between the runs of the other member to flex or crimp the leaf stems transversely at adjacent points.

8. In a tobacco stemming machine, stemming devices, and means for advancing a succession of tobacco leaves into the range of action of said stemming devices, said means comprising two opposed cooperating exible endless members at least one of which is looped a plurality of times to provide a plurality of adjacent operating runs, and mechanism guiding said members with a run of the other member opposite the space between the adjacent runs of the plurally looped member to flex or crimp the leaf stems transversely.

JOHN CHRISTOPHER KINKER, JR. 

